Owners of alleged maternity hotel in Chino Hills has agreed to bring property back to city compliance

CHINO HILLS - Property owner of an alleged maternity hotel operation has entered into an agreement with the city to bring their home up to city code, officials said Tuesday.

San Bernardino County Superior Court Judge Keith D. Davis issued a judgment against the home owner Hai Yong Wu and Los Angeles Hermes, Inc. in the matter regarding the property at 15250 Woodglen Drive.

"The defendant, Hai Yong Wu, has agreed to take a series of steps to bring the property back into compliance with local codes in the next 210 days," said City Attorney Mark Hensley in an emailed statement. "The property cannot be occupied until the corrections are made."

City officials said the house is vacant and may not be occupied it until permits and code issues are fixed.

"They make not operate a business either," said Denise Cattern, city spokeswoman.

Hensley said the city worked with the property owner and stipulated that what was occurring needs to be corrected.

"Rather than spending money on legal fees, this is a much more efficient and cost effect way to deal with the problem," he said.

Chino Hills officials sought the temporary restraining order on Dec. 27 against the owners of the home, where it is alleged wealthy women from China came to give birth so their children could be American citizens.

The court order - which was continued on Jan. 17 - prevents operators of Los Angeles Hermas Inc., Wu and Yi Wang, from occupying the property. The order at that time also prevents them from performing any construction work at the house without first obtaining a permit from the city or from operating it as a hotel in violation of the city Municipal Code.

Wu and Wang had been ordered to appear in court on Jan. 17 to show cause why a preliminary injunction should not be granted to Chino Hills barring the owners from the Woodglen Drive property pending a trial, according to a city news release. But neither owner nor their lawyers appeared in court on that date.

Cattern said on Wednesday however Wang has been dismissed from the case.

A public nuisance complaint was filed Dec. 7 with the court alleging that a maternity hotel was being operated in the 7,964-square-foot house in violation of several code enforcement laws.

Through a court-ordered inspection in November, city officials discovered that the house has been used to house as many as 30 Chinese women to have their children on American soil.

Chino Hills residents belonging to a grassroots organization sent a letter to President Barack Obama, as well as Assembly members and senators, last month telling them of the birth tourism phenomenon.